Australian History: 1800-1901

Service Description

Course Description This course builds on our previous Australian history course, which covered pre-colonial Australia, Cook's discovery, and the early settlement following the First Fleet. It offers a detailed approach to Australian history, emphasising critical analysis, source evaluation, and mapwork to trace the nation's development from early colonial challenges to Federation. Students will explore the influence of Western civilisation and Christian values on Australia’s political, social, and cultural growth. Key topics include the early difficulties faced by the colonies, such as Matthew Flinders' explorations, Governor King's governance, the Castle Hill Rebellion, and early encounters with Aboriginal peoples. The course also covers Macquarie’s reforms, highlighting John Macquarie’s leadership and the growth of New South Wales during a period when Christian faith endured without clergy. Pioneer expansion is examined through the role of William Wentworth in opening new territories and the spread of Christian influence, particularly through figures like Fr O’Flynn. Exploration and society are studied through the journeys of explorers like Leichhardt and Sturt, as well as the moral contributions of Christian figures like Caroline Chisholm. The path to Federation is traced through the rise of political leaders such as Henry Parkes and Alfred Deakin. Pre requisites: A strong foundation in reading comprehension and critical thinking is essential, as students will engage with primary and secondary sources. Students must demonstrate a willingness to participate in class discussions, complete written assignments, and engage in logical argumentation. Required Materials: There is no set text for this subject. Students may on occasion need to print primary sources. Students need an A4 exercise book for notes. Students will use Microsoft Teams and Microsoft OneNote to submit work and for live classes. Course Sessions: This course will commence in the week starting February 3. There are two one-hour sessions each week, held on Mondays and Wednesdays at 11 am (AEDT/AEST). There will be a term break from April 14 to April 25. Classes resume in the week commencing April 28. The final week of classes for this course will be during the week commencing June 23. There will be no classes on March 19 (Feast of St. Joseph) and June 9 (King’s Birthday). Instructor: Mrs. Elizabeth Matheson